He tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her closer as his dark eyes lowered.
Without absolute certainty, he couldn’t act rashly.
Right now, she was nestled obediently in his embrace, and he didn’t want anything to shatter this rare moment of perfection.
"Yangyang," he murmured, kissing her earlobe.
Her shoulders trembled slightly at the sudden huskiness in his voice. Before she could push him away, he pinned her to the sofa in the next second.
---
The next day was Saturday, Sang Ning’s first day off after a grueling month of work.
By the time she woke up, it was already past noon.
Bleary-eyed, she took ten minutes to gather herself before dragging her exhausted body out of bed.
As she stepped out of her room, Nanny Zhang was bustling around outside.
"You’re awake, Miss? Lunch is ready. Sir is in a meeting in his study and said it might take a while, so he told you to eat without waiting for him," Nanny Zhang quickly explained.
"Mm, okay." Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Sang Ning turned toward the bathroom to freshen up.
Only after brushing her teeth and washing her face did she feel fully awake.
Nanny Zhang had already set the food on the table. Glancing at the closed study door, Sang Ning pulled out a chair and sat down. "Did he say how much longer?"
"No, but it definitely won’t be soon. The meeting started at eleven. You should eat first—you skipped breakfast, don’t starve yourself."
Sang Ning nodded, taking a sip of milk from the glass beside her.
Nanny Zhang headed back to the kitchen to clean up. "Since it’s the weekend and you and Sir are both home, I’ll leave after tidying up. I made you a cake—it’s in the fridge."
Sang Ning smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Nanny Zhang."
Picking up her chopsticks, she took a bite of shrimp while unlocking her phone to check her messages.
Ji Yan had sent over a dozen texts—five funny videos, eight rants about Gu Xingchen, and five memes.
Sang Ning skimmed through them, catching the key detail: Are you free this weekend? Let’s go shopping!
After a moment’s thought, she typed back: I’m off. Tomorrow?
Ji Yan replied instantly: OKK!
Sang Ning grinned, then tapped on one of the funny videos.
As she watched, her gaze drifted to a large cardboard box piled near the entryway.
Assuming it was a delivery—she had recently gotten into online shopping thanks to Ji Yan and had just bought a two-meter-tall giraffe plushie—she set down her chopsticks and walked over.
"Is this a package?"
Lifting the lid, she found a lavish bouquet of fresh, velvety roses tied with an oversized bow. Beneath it were two smaller boxes—one filled with candles, the other with red rose petals.
She froze.
Nanny Zhang emerged from the kitchen, drying her hands. "That’s not a package. Sir told me to throw it away."
Sang Ning blinked. "Throw it away?"
Nanny Zhang nodded. "The florist delivered it this morning, saying Sir had ordered it in advance. But after I signed for it, he took one look and said the flowers weren’t nice enough, so he told me to toss them."
She chuckled awkwardly. "But I thought they were lovely—fresh and beautiful—so I kept them, planning to take them home for a vase."
Sang Ning reached in and plucked out the small card tucked between the blooms. Flipping it open, she read: Marry me.
Her fingers stilled.
---
Half an hour later, He Siyu finally emerged from his study.
Sang Ning was curled up on the sofa, eating cake and watching TV.
Suddenly, the cushion beside her dipped, and she tilted sideways, landing against a solid chest. His arm wrapped around her waist as he pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips.
She looked up. "Done with work?"
"Mm. Feed me." He leaned in again.
Just as she raised a forkful of cake, he captured her lips instead.
"Mmph—"
Clutching the plate, she didn’t dare move, afraid of dropping it. Seizing the opportunity, he deepened the kiss, parting her lips with a hunger that left her breathless.
Only when her cheeks flushed and her lungs burned did he finally release her, brushing his lips against hers once more. "So sweet."
Sang Ning touched her slightly swollen lips, frowning. "Nanny Zhang left food for you. Go eat."
"Did you eat already?" His grip didn’t loosen.
"Yeah. She left after reheating your meal. Said she’d come back tomorrow."
Sang Ning speared a strawberry with her fork and casually asked, "Did you order flowers?"
His arm around her waist tightened. He met her clear, luminous gaze.
"Yeah."
His throat moved as he replied offhandedly, "Wanted to celebrate your success, but the bouquet wasn’t good enough. Told them to toss it. I’ll order another."
Sang Ning blinked. "Oh."
A restless irritation surged in him. His dark eyes pinned her in place. "Give me another bite."
"Go eat your—mmph—!"
He crushed her against him, kissing her fiercely.
The cake plate was plucked from her hand and set aside before he pressed her into the sofa again.
Her eyes widened as she turned her face away. "He Siyu! Are you done yet?!"
He nipped her earlobe, his large hand gripping her waist, his gaze blazing. "No."
Not in this lifetime.
---
Sunday, 11:30 AM.
Sang Ning hurriedly pushed open the door of a restaurant, where Ji Yan was already waiting, bored.
"Sorry, I overslept," Sang Ning said, sliding into the seat across from her, still catching her breath from the rush.
For once, Ji Yan didn’t scold her for being late. Instead, she propped her chin on her hand, studying Sang Ning with sharp eyes before clicking her tongue. "Ningning, overindulgence is bad for your health."
Sang Ning froze, her glass of water halfway to her lips. Her face burned crimson, the thick layer of foundation doing nothing to hide it.
"I—"
Ji Yan cupped her face sympathetically. "Poor thing. You look drained—literally."
Sang Ning: "..."
She took a large gulp of honey lemon water, pretending not to hear.
Setting the glass down, she changed the subject. "Did Gu Xingchen piss you off again?"
Ji Yan had sent twenty messages cursing him out.
The mention instantly ignited Ji Yan’s temper, successfully diverting her. "That bastard Gu Xingchen! We agreed that once we moved out, we’d live separately. But now he’s saying that to avoid suspicion from our parents, we have to stay together! So I’ll still have to see his stupid face every day!"
Ji Yan and Gu Xingchen had married not long ago and were temporarily living at the Gu family estate to get acquainted with relatives.
But the Gus weren’t strict about keeping the younger generation at home—especially since Gu Xingchen was hardly the type to be tied down. They’d planned to move out soon.
Originally, Gu Xingchen had promised that once they left the estate, they’d go their separate ways.
Now they had to live under the same roof!
Sang Ning froze for a moment before replying slowly, "Well, since you just got married, it wouldn’t be appropriate to live apart."
If nothing else, newlyweds were always under the close watch of family elders—it’d be too easy to get caught.
Ji Yan glared. "Whose side are you on?"
Sang Ning swallowed. "You can still live separately even in the same house. Just get a bigger villa, and you’ll each have your own space."
Ji Yan stroked her chin thoughtfully. "That could work."
"But…" She narrowed her eyes. "For some reason, Gu Xingchen has been acting strange lately."
"How so?" Sang Ning asked curiously.
Ji Yan waved a hand dismissively. "Never mind. Who knows what’s gotten into him? Let’s go shopping after lunch—Cartier just released a new collection, and I’ve been meaning to take you!"
"Sure." Sang Ning smiled.
After the meal, they headed to the mall.
Ji Yan went on another shopping spree, something Sang Ning was already used to, so she trailed behind leisurely.
"Wow, this ruby ring is stunning." Ji Yan wiggled her fingers, admiring the sparkling gemstone on her index finger with excitement.
Sang Ning nodded. "It’s beautiful."
"Let’s each get one! I’ll take the ruby, and you get the sapphire—isn’t blue your favorite?"
Sang Ning paused, suddenly remembering that small dark blue velvet box.
"What do you think?" Ji Yan leaned in.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Sang Ning nodded. "Okay."
Ji Yan immediately pulled out her card. "I’ll take both—wrap them up!"
"This is too expensive. Let me pay for mine." Sang Ning reached for her own card.
Ji Yan grandly pressed her hand down. "It’s Gu Xingchen’s card—no need to hold back."
Sang Ning: "..."
Ji Yan scoffed, lifting her chin proudly. "After all the suffering I’ve endured marrying him, spending a little ‘emotional compensation’ is only fair!"
Sang Ning swallowed. "Well… that does make sense."
The sales associate eagerly packaged the rings while Ji Yan continued admiring hers, happily trying it on.
Sang Ning’s gaze drifted and landed on a tray of plain rings nearby—simple and understated amidst the dazzling array of gemstones and diamonds.
"What kind of rings are these?"
The sales associate beamed. "These are men’s wedding bands."
Sang Ning blinked.
